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Buffalo Grove hangs on to down Schaumburg

Pride just wasn't a word for Schaumburg and Buffalo Grove Friday.

Despite it being a Mid-Suburban League boys basketball crossover game with nothing really at stake other than the final game of the season, both teams battled like they did a year ago in the MSL championship game. When it was over, Buffalo Grove hung on to a 60-52 win over the Saxons.

It was also a little bit of revenge for the Bison, who lost 49-42 to Schaumburg in the MSL title game in February of 2020.

"We are so fortunate to get the season in," Buffalo Grove coach Keith Peterson said. "We are so thankful for the commitment our seniors made sticking with it. "

It was the end of a crazy year of basketball. But the one constant was how hard the teams played, especially in the last high school game for the seniors.

"I can't be sad because we got a season this year," said Buffalo Grove senior Steph Harris, who finished with 13 points.

"We knew we had some tough games. But we looked at every game at the end of the season so we could win out."

And win out they did as the Bison (12-5) won their last seven games to set the table quite nicely for next year.

"It was a great way to finish the season," Peterson said. "Our seniors did a great job for us."

It will be a current junior that all eyes in the MSL will be on next season. BG's Kam Craft, who scored 26 points, had 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and three high-flying jams, will be a huge key next season.

"There are not many opportunities to finish up a season with win," Craft said. "It will be a grand offseason."

Craft finished the year with 434 points. That gave him the school record with a 25.5 average points per game. Craft will enter next season with 1,694 points.

He had eight of those in the first quarter when Buffalo Grove scored 14 unanswered points to lead 16-5.

Schaumburg (5-8) could have easily packed things in at that point. But the Saxons, led by Ryan Muldoon (19 points) and Vaurice Patterson (13 points), refused to surrender.

Schaumburg closed to 33-27 at the half and got as close as 39-36 on a 3-pointer by Muldoon with 3:38 left in the third quarter.

Buffalo Grove then scored three quick baskets from Will Genthner (11 points), Craft and Aaron Pattis and Schaumburg was never closer than five.

"This group of seniors has done this all year," Schaumburg coach Wade Heisler said. "This team has been one of the most special teams I have been around. They bring it very day and they like each other. I am going to miss them."

  Schaumburg's Elliah Brown looks for helps as he scrambled for a loose ball which he tries to pass off as Buffalo Grove's Kam Craft and Kyle Brosnahan guard him in the first half of varsity basketball at Buffalo Grove High School on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Schaumburg's Vaurice Patterson battles Buffalo Grove's Ayden Anderson for the rebound in the first half of varsity basketball at Buffalo Grove High School on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Buffalo Grove's Kam Craft goes east coast to west coast on a steal and slams it home untouched by Schaumburg's defense in the first half of varsity basketball at Buffalo Grove High School on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Buffalo Grove's Ayden Anderson goes strong against Schaumburg's defense in the first half of varsity basketball at Buffalo Grove High School on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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